Mary (Riekkola) Nauha grew up in Astoria, where her childhood was shaped by family business, time spent log rolling on Young’s Bay, and views of Saddle Mountain. As her mother’s legal guardian, she managed every aspect of her care through seven years of Alzheimer’s, working closely with healthcare, legal, and financial professionals. Mary joined the Clatsop Care Health District board in 2022 and became President of the Clatsop Cares Foundation in 2025, where she is dedicated to strengthening community support and ensuring quality long-term care for future generations.
Sara Meyer moved to Astoria in 1971 to work as a Senior Resident Advisor of Orientation at Tongue Point Job Corps. It was easy and worthwhile to get involved with the town and schools.
She and her husband, Chuck opened The Compleat Photographer in 1977 and enjoyed a successful 31 years of serving customers while selling all the needs of picture takers.
We had 3 sons, and brought in a 4th to make a strong family. Sara served on the 1C School Board and CCCollege Board. She was on the Boards of the Chamber and Downtown Businesses. AAUW is her organization of service.,.
After the store closed in 2008, retirement allowed her to expand Sara’s Old Photos. She shared history thru photos and information to folks and built up quite a following on facebook.
Chuck and Sara have been strong and long supporters for our Clatsop Care Health District. I was on the original Foundation Board that formed, but with management change, the Foundation went dormant. It is being revived and I want to help it thrive.
For 17 formative years, she lived in the small company town of Valsetz, Oregon, where she developed the values of hard work, service, and community that would define her career. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1965 and later earned a degree from Mount Angel College in 1972, with concentrated studies in gerontology.
Her career in long-term care began in 1965 as a nursing aide. Over the years, she served in numerous leadership roles, including activities director, consultant, and social services director at Clatsop Care, beginning in 1980. In May 1991, she became Administrator of Clatsop Care Center and led a series of transformational projects, including the conversion of residential care beds to intermediate care in 1991, a 16-bed nursing home expansion in 1992, passage of a tax base in 1995, completion of Clatsop Retirement Village in 1999, addition of in-home care services in 2010, and oversight of the completion of Clatsop Memory Care in 2013. Recognized as an innovative leader in long-term care, she received numerous state and national awards and became a sought-after speaker throughout the industry. In 1999, she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Clatsop Care Health District.
Her commitment to community service has been equally distinguished. In 1990, she received the Heart of Gold Award for volunteer service. She served for ten years on the Lower Columbia Hospice Board, was a founding member of the Clatsop County Early Intervention Council and the Northwest Provider Network, and served six years as a Governor’s appointee to the Nursing Home Administrators Board of Examiners. Additional leadership roles included fifteen years on the Oregon Alliance Board of Directors, service on the Tongue Point Community Board, the Clatsop Community College Nursing Advisory Board, the Coast Rehabilitation Board, and the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea School Board. She also served as Chair of the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Pastoral Council for twenty years.
In 2011, she was honored through her inclusion among Astoria’s 100 Most Important Women in History, recognizing her lasting impact on healthcare, community service, and leadership. She retired in 2013 after a remarkable career dedicated to improving the lives of seniors and strengthening the communities she served.
Virginia Hall serves as a member of both the Clatsop Care Health District Board of Directors and its fundraising arm, the Clatsop Cares Foundation. Virgie has experience in research for many pertinent areas including voter roles and construction, as she formerly worked at the building permits office for Clatsop County. A veteran of the USAF, Virginia continues to teach at Clatsop Community College (community ed) and writes for Northwest Observer and Substack. She and her husband are retired business owners and enjoy spending their time volunteering for various community needs.
Rachel Holland is a nonprofit fundraising and community engagement professional dedicated to strengthening the wellbeing of Clatsop County residents. Since moving to the North Coast in 2018, Rachel has been actively involved in local nonprofit work, board service, and volunteer leadership. She brings experience in fundraising, community partnerships, communications, and nonprofit governance, along with a strong commitment to equitable access to essential services and healthier, more connected communities.
